Apparatus for blowing off, washing, and recharging boilers.



PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

W. L. MILLER. APPARATUS FOR BLOWING-OFF. WASHING, AND REOHARGING BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1904'.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LOUIS MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLIHOIS, ASSIGNOR OF TO FREDERICK A. GALE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR BLOWING OFF, WASHING, AND RECHARGING BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed April 9,1904. Serial No. 202,341.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM LOUIS MiLLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Apparatus for Blowing Ofi, ashing, and Rechargin Steam-Boilers, of which the following is a 11, clear, and exact description.

The present invention has for its main object to provide apparatus whereby the boilers of locomotive engines may be blown off, washed when necessary, and re-charged, and the invention consists in the features of improvement hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawin s and more particularly pointed out in the c aims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showin the apparatus embodying my invention. 2 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section of the mixing chamber forming part of the apparatus.

lVith locomotive boilers in activeservice, it is customary to blow off and wash the boiler about once each week. The temperature of the water withdrawn from the boiler (assuming the pressure within the boiler to be 100 lbs.) is approximately 336 Fahrenheit. In washing the boiler it is desirable to use water at a temperature of about 130, as water of higher temperature can not be conveniently used in the hand hose employed in the washin operation. When it isdesired to re-charge t .e boiler, after washing, the fresh feed water admitted to the-boiler should be at about a tem erature of 212. If the boiler be blown o more frequently, the necessity of washing the boiler so often, is obviated,

and as the washing of a locomotive boiler usually requires about six or seven hours, it will readily be seen that it is highly desirable to avoid the putting of the locomotive out of service for so long a period.

By the use of my improved apparatus, the locomotive boiler can be blown ofl and the boiler can be re-charged with fresh feed water at a temperature of approximately 336, and as this can be done within about forty-five minutes, it will be seen that the water of the locomotive can be changed frequently and the necessity of putting the locomotive out of service to wash its boiler need occur only at long intervals.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates a locomotive that is in position above a pit B in the round-house W or other convenient point Where the boiler is to be washed or re-charged. Conveniently su ported with respect to the track on which t e locomotive runs, extends the pi e C, the lower end 0 of which will be provi ed with a short section of hose furnished with a cou ling to engage the usual blow-off cock of tfie locomotive boiler. To the inner end of the pipe C is connecteda mixing chamber D from which lead the branch pipes E, F and G, these several pipes being furnished respectively with the cooks e, d7 and g. The pipe E leads from the lower en of the mixing chamber D to approximately the bottom of the reservoir H, that may be about twelve feet indiameter and preferably located below the level of the ground, and through this pipe E the blow-off water from the locomotive boiler will be delivered to the reservoir H. The reservoir H is furnished with a tight cover it firmly secured thereto and with an over-flow ipe it that may lead to the sewer. The pipe leads to a four-way coupling 2 and from this coupling 2 one pipe 3 leads to the cold water supply pump K, another pi e 4 (of small diameter) leads to a governor ill that is provided with a steam admission pipe m and with a steam pipe m that connects the governor with the steam chest of the ump K. A third pipe F leads from the coup ing 2 to the heating coil F within the reservoir H, and from this coil F a pipe F leads to the water heater P. The pipe G connects the mixing chamber D with the water heater P. The waterheater P is preferably a tubular heater, the pipes F and G connecting to that part of the heater inside the tube-sup ortmg heads that are indicated by dotte lines at p in the drawing. From the top of the reservoir H leads a pipe R having a branch 1' leading into the water heater P, and to this branch 1" also leads the section of the ipe R. whereby live steam may be delivered to the water heater from a suitable steam boiler conveniently located within 'a' power house -W. A cock 6 is interposed in the steam delivery pipe R and a cock 7 is placed in the pipe R. Preferably,

a sprocket chain 14 leads from a sprocket wheel on the cock 6 to a sprocket wheel inside the round-house W, the shaft of the sprocket wheel in the round-house being furnished with a handle 15 whereby it maybe turned to operate the valve. From the end. of the water heater opposite the pipe R leads a discharge pipe S that is furnished with a cock 8, the upper end of this ipe S leading to the atmosphere. One end of the water heater P is furnished with a pipe 10 leading to a trap 8 for receiving the water of condensation from the water heater. For convenience of manipulation, the stems of the cocks s and 7 will be furnished with sprocket wheels in manner well understood, from which wheels, sprocket chains T and T may respectively lead through the wall of the round-house W and around sprocket wheels t and 15 carried upon shafts that are furnished with handles 10 and 11 whereby the cocks 6 and 7 can be manipulated.

In the preferred form of my invention, the mixing chamber D comprises a spiral mixing blade D that is revolubly mounted within the chamber D. As shown, each end of the spiral blade D is provided with a pivot-pin d and these pivot-pins set within seats or sockets d and d that are connected by arms (and preferably in the process of casting the chamber D) to the wall of the mixing chamber.

The governor M is preferably of the type commonly known as the Fisher Steam Pum Governor although it will be understoo that any other suitable type of governor adapted for the purpose may be employed, it being understood that the function of the governor M is to automatically con- .trol the operation of the pump K. in order to regulate the supply of water through the pipe F, the coil F and the pipe F 3 to the water I heater P.

From the foregoing description the operation of my apparatus will be seen to be as follows, it being assumed that the locomotive A is in the position indicated in 1 of the drawing, with the blow-ofi cock of its boiler connected to the lower end of the pipe 0: During the blowing off of the boiler, the cooks f and g-of pipes F and G will be closed and cook e of pi e E will be open. Hence the water from t e boiler will pass through pipe C, through mixing chamber D and through pipe E to the reservoir H, and as the Water thus withdrawn from the boiler will have a temperature of approximately 336, it will serve to impart a big er degree of heat to the feed water within the coil F. It will be understood of course that the coil F will comprise a large number of sections and in practice I prefer that the capacity of the coil shall be approximately fifteen hundred gallons, while the capacity of the water heater P may be about two thousand gallons. Any

seams excess water delivered from the locomotive boiler may pass away from the reservoir H by the over-flow pipe h. After the water has been withdrawn from the boiler, the steam will pass therefrom by ipe (l, mixing chamber D, and pipe E into t e reservoir H, and will pass thence through the pipe R and branch pipe 1" into the water heater P, from which it may pass by the exhaust pipe S. After the boiler has been thus blown off, if it is to be washed, the cock 2 of pipe E will be closed and the cooks f and g of pipes F and G will be opened, thereby permitting hot water from the heater P to ass by pipe G into mixing chamber D, whi e cold water from the pump K is delivered by pipe 3 through pipe F to the mixin chamber D. By means of the cocks f and g the flow of hot and cold water can be controlled, and as the mixing chamber is furnished with a thermometer X, the attendant can readily regulate the temperature at which the wash water shall be delivered through the pipe C to the locomotive boiler. water are thus delivered to the mixing chamber D,.they will cause the spiral blade D to ra idly revolve, thus thoroughly comminghng the streams of water before their delivery into the pipe C.

When it is desired to blow off and re-charge the locomotive boiler withoutwashin the boiler, the blowing off of the boiler Wlll be accomplished in manner above described, the fire being temporarily banked; after which the attendant, by operating the handles 10 and 11, will close the cocks s and 7 and will open the cock 6 of the live steam pipe R, by turning the handle 15. Live steam thus entering the water heater P under high pressure, will raise the temperature of the water within the heater to approximately 336 and the attendant will then open the cock g of the pipe G and permit the highly heated feed water to pass through the mixing chamber D and pipe G to the boiler. In this way the boiler can be blown off and re-charged in a very short time (about 45 minutes) and ifthis be done at frequent intervals, it will not be found necessary to wash the boiler oftener than, say, once a month.

Inasmuch as the pump K, by which cold water is supplied, is in communication through pipe 3 with the coil F and hence with the water-heater, it will be seen that a uniform pressure throughout the system is maintained. This is important becauseit enables both cold and hot water to be delivered at the same time to the mixing chamber, which would not be possible if substantially different pressures were upon the hot and cold water pipes leading to the mixing chamber.

It will be understood that the details of construction above set forth may be varied As the streams of hot and cold without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. Thus, for example, any other suitable form of receptacle might be used instead of the coil F and such receptacle I regard as the equivalent of such coil.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a Water-heater, a reservoir havin a closed top and adapted to receive blow-o water from the boiler, a pipe arranged to conduct water from the boiler to said reservoir, a steam pipe leading from the upper part of said reservoir to the Water-heater and a pipe for'conducting the hot water from the water heater to the boiler.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a reservoir having a closed top, a water-heater, a steam-pipe leading from the top of said reservoir to said water-heater, a heating-coil Within said reservoir having a pipe for admitting fresh water thereto, a pipe connecting said coil with the Water-heater, a pipe arrangedto receive blow-off water from the boiler, and a pipe for delivering hot water from the water-heater to the boiler.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a Water-heater, a reservoir to re ceive'bl'ow-ofi water from the boiler, a heating coil for fresh water located Within said reservoir, a pipe for admitting fresh water to said coil, a pipe connecting said coil to the water heater, a steam pipe leading from the top of said reservoir to the water heater and a pipe whereby hot water may be delivered from the water heater to the boiler to be washed.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a water-heater, a pipe for delivering hot Water from said heater, a mixing chamber provided with a revoluble'blade, a pipe for delivering cold water to said mixing chamber and a pipe arranged to deliver water from said mixing chamber to the boiler to be washed.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a water-heater, a reservoir to receive blow-off water from the boiler, a pipe whereby blow-off Water may be admitted to said reservoir, a steam pipe leading from the upper part of said reservoir to the water heater, an exhaust pipe leading from the water-heater, a steam pipe whereby live steam may be admitted to said water-heater and a pipe leading from said water-heater and through which water may be conducted to the boiler, said several pipes being provided with suitable cocks.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a water-heater, a reservoir to receive blow-off water from a boiler, a mixing,

chamber, a pipe leading from said mixing chamber and having its free end arranged to connect with the blow-off cock of a locomotive boiler, a heating coil within said reservoir, a pipe connecting said heating coil with the water-heater, a pipe connecting the upper end of the reservoir with the waterheater, a pipe for admitting fresh Water to said heating coil,a pipe for deliveringcold water to the mixing chamber, a hot water pipe leading from the water-heater to the mixing chamber and a pipe leading from the mixing chamber to said reservoir, the several pipes connected to said mixing chamber being provided with cocks. 1

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a water-heater, a mixing cham ber, a pipe for delivering hot water from said heater to said mixing chamber, a pipe for delivering cold waterto said mixing chamber, means for maintaining a substantially uniform pressure in the cold and hot water pipes leading to the mixing chamber, and a pipe arranged to deliver water from said mixing chamber to the boiler to be washed.

WILLIAM LOUIS MILLER.

Witnesses:

ALBERTA ADAMICK, GEO. P. FISHER, Jr. 

